How to travel safely with your pet in the car

So you’ve picked up a new friend at the shelter and you’re ready to take them home! Here’s how to make sure they get home safe and sound.

Pets are members of the family. They keep you company and love you unconditionally.

If their cuteness isn’t compelling enough, studies show that owning a pet can have a positive impact on mental health and reduces stress. Pets provide opportunities to socialize and meet other pet owners. They even help children to develop.

It’s important to make sure that our pets are safe the moment they’re picked up from shelter. Here are tips on how to safely transport your best mate in the car.

Dogs

After adopting a furry friend, it’s natural to want to hold them close and never let go. For the drive home however, it is best to safely restrain your dog in the passenger seat. In Australia it’s illegal to have your dog on your lap while driving.

To ensure your canine companion is transported safely, a popular option is using a car or dog harness. If your pooch is restrained in the car, they are unable to move around the vehicle. This means they are less likely to distract the driver, reducing the risk of an accident. If there is an accident, the restraint also decreases the risk of serious injury for your pooch.

If you have a ute, it’s important to make sure that your dog is properly restrained by either a tether or cage. That way your dog is unable to jump or fall off the back of the ute in an unlikely event.

Before you buy a dog or car harness, it’s important to measure your dog. Getting the correct size harness provides maximum comfort and security for your pup.

Cats

There are a couple of things to consider before taking your cat home for the first time. To make sure they’re comfortable and safe, we recommend using a travel carrier. You have the option of a soft-sided carrier, which is generally best for air travel, or a hard-sided carrier, which we recommend for that first drive home. The hard-sided carrier ensures that your cat is secure. Simply place puppy pads at the bottom of the carrier to help soak up any ‘accidents’.

You may want to consider covering the carrier cage with an old sheet. The sheet will make your feline friend feel more calm and relaxed. Remember to ensure the carrier door is firmly closed when you open the car doors.

Snakes

Snakes are not for the faint-hearted! If you are adopting a slithery reptile, it’s important to know how transport them safely.

The first step is to carefully place your snake inside a bag made from a cloth fabric. An old pillow case is a good option. The opaque material allows your snake to not be stressed out about its surroundings. Place the bag inside a relatively large plastic container. There isn’t any need to puncture holes in the container as they can breathe safely for up to two hours. If you’re travelling for a longer distance, create small holes in the container to be safe. That way your slithery friend can breathe freely.

Keep the box close to you. This will prevent the box from flying around and jostling your slithery friend.

Ferrets

When taking home a ferret, a cat or dog carrier is the best option. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these carriers are a lot larger than the small ferret that will be transported inside it. To avoid your fur-ball from escaping, ensure there are no gaps more than 1-2 cm big.

Place the carrier on the car seat and head on home. When the car doors are open, ensure the carrier doors are firmly shut to avoid losing your new friend.

Pet Rock

If you’re looking for a low-responsibility, low-maintenance, loyal pet… a pet rock might just be the pet for you. When transporting your pet rock it’s important to make sure that they are secure in a car seat. If they aren’t properly restrained, your car might endure some damage.

Ensure your pet is properly protected with Pet Insurance brought to you by AAMI, together with Petinsurance.com.au.

Registered Office, Level 28, 266 George St, Brisbane QLD 4000. Information provided is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account any person’s particular objectives, financial situation or needs. Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or Policy Document available at www.aami.com.au and consider whether it’s appropriate for you before making any decisions about whether to buy or continue to hold a product. Information current as of 9 July 2015.